The chant continues as six open-air trucks crammed with volunteers from the Ontario Home Builders’ Association pulls into the barrio of Aguas Negras for the first time.

The warm welcome is only a small taste of the warmth, hospitality and spirit that would greet the 180-plus volunteers each day of the OHBA Humanitarian Build, which partnered with LiveDifferent’s Hero Holidays on the project.

Six houses were blitz built in four days and a dedication ceremony was held on the fifth.

“I’ve been to many different countries and I’ve been in barrios before, but nothing comes close to this experience,” says Doug Tarry, president of the OHBA.

“To see the spirit these people have is pretty incredible. It’s been an unbelievable experience. It is about their spirit.”

James Bazely, the driving force behind this adventure, was beaming as the homes were dedicated and the keys given to the new homeowners.

It was Bazely’s daughter, Melissa, who challenged him to get involved in building homes here, where she now lives and works with Dove Missions (www.dovemissions.org).

Bazely responded by challenging the OHBA to move its annual conference to Puerto Plata and build proper homes for the residents.

“This was everything I hoped for and more,” Bazely says during an interview in the lobby of the Riu Bachata resort in Puerto Plata, where the volunteers stayed.

“I anticipated that some of the delegates would back off when they saw the conditions of the neighbourhood, but instead they worked double shifts and turned up every day. They worked very hard.

“And although I’d been here before, until you’re seeing it and smelling it, you don’t know exactly what you’re up against.”

Aguas Negras was built on a former garbage dump and when it rains black water surfaces and floods the streets and homes, bring garbage and sewage with it.

“Often you see the statement ‘exceed your expectations.’ I have always thought that was a ridiculous description,” says Dan Gabriele, co-chair of the build. “But I would have to say this is the first time I would use that descriptive phrase.

“What I really wasn’t expecting was the fashion in which all the participants pulled together as a team and were selfless in their daily efforts.

“The fact that this big group of gringos cared about their community inspired them to believe in their community and they did their utmost to express their appreciation through their kindness.”

The community of Aguas Negras petitioned the government for the name change to reflect its changing nature, from a squalid choked encampment to a real community with a school and clinic and growing families, says Christal Earle of LiveDifferent (www.livedifferent.com).

When the volunteers — divided into six teams — arrived at the building sites, local contractors had already demolished the decrepit homes that had stood there and had started laying concrete blocks.

But there were too many volunteers for the small bulding sites, so Earle had half of the group — including many of the children — take on the task of cleaning the local beach. Neighbourhood children quickly joined in and new friendships were struck and games were happily played.

The beach was a horrific sight: mounds of garbage wash up on the shore daily as this community is at the bottom of Puerto Plata’s port and the tide washes everybody’s trash here.

She has created a foundation called the Garden of Light and has spearheaded the building of the school, a church, a clinic and women’s co-operative that sells handmade goods, as well as running boys and girls clubs.

Timeo grew up in Nuevo Renacer and is a single mother of four children, aged 19, 17, 15 and 12, and is loved and respected by all who know her.

The school, which goes up to Grade 4 or 12 years old (whichever comes first) is about to get a second floor, meaning that the children won’t have to bused out of the community to continue their education.

Although admission to the school is free, children must buy their own uniforms and books (it gets no government funding), which can be a barrier to many families getting their young ones a prized education.

Timeo says there are about 1,000 families living here — about 4,000 people — and there are 258 children attending the school with 10 teachers, and 36 girls and 22 boys in the clubs she runs.

Teachers at her school are paid about the equivalent of $60 a month for a half day of classes; $120 a month if they work both morning and afternoon shifts.

“I’m blessed because God gives me many people to help my community,” Timeo says in her acceptable English, although most of the conversation has been facilitated by Earle.

Garden of Light is about to celebrate its ninth anniversary and Sandra is proud of her work.

“I became aware of the initiative when I got a call from (former ambassador Alvin Curling,” Kuiack says in an interview. “I then spoke to James (Bazely) and Doug (Tarry).

“Zoe read the family profiles and she wanted to come. Zoe has always wanted to help and she showed a lot of enthusiasm for the project.

“And she’s invested herself here, working along with the others.”

Kuiack’s family is not unfamiliar with the poverty in the Dominican Republic, as his wife volunteers here time in orphanages.

But he was happy his children came to Nuevo Renacer so they could “see how lucky we are in Canada and how a little effort can make a big difference.”

Kuiack, 42, is an ambassador with a difference. Getting muddy on a building site isn’t something that envoys usually do — they are mostly suit and tie types — but Kuiack said that “this is just one of the radical things I’ve done while I’m here.”

“I do the usual things, like meet with the tourism chiefs and the economic councils, but we’ve also started life-saving courses for lifeguards. We bring in trainers from Canada, which WestJet pays for, and train locals.

“My role as the ambassador of this project was unique. I was not assigned specifically to any one of the six sites and this allowed me to see a spirit of humanity demonstrated that words would definitely fall short of capturing.

“I saw tears of joy, tears of kindness and tears of gratitude and relief. Individuals were transformed from giving to receiving from acceptance to sharing,” he said in an email.

“Canadians coming from the comfort of their homes to assist others with less means of material infrastructure found a community that welcomed them with a spirit that has sustained them through natural and human disasters for decades.

“Smiles that melt the hearts of all, children that wanted piggyback rides to say that ‘we are family,’ children of both nations sharing their games and spaces as all kids do when they get together.

“The spoken languages were never a challenge. Neither side speaks each other’s language, but it did not matter. Both sides seem to recognize that there was a greater force at play and proceeded to let it runs it’s course.

“I saw the language of human kindness in full flight through smiles, laughter, high fives, low fives, or sharing a Presidente, a Dominican beer. These actions transcend all spoken words. In precise terms, it was saying nuestra familia.

“It was indeed an honour and a life changing experience to be part of it.”

Working on that principle, Liz McKie and Melissa Bazely of Dove Missions began the pig program in Nuevo Renacer.

In this pilot program, a female pig was bought for a family — who was taught how to take care of it — as well as a pen and food. When the piglets reach about two months, the farmer gives one female pig back to Dove Missions and can sell the other piglets (for about $30 for a female, about $25 for a male).

Then Dove Missions sets up another family with the new pig, and when she matures, she’ll be bred and the cycle continues. It’s a way of providing income and food for the community. Pork, by the way, is a real delicacy here, with a pig roast the favoured Christmas dinner.

During the week of the build, the first momma pig, who they’ve named Chum Chum Chum, gave birth to 13 piglets. So, after the farmer gives one female back to Dove Missions, he’ll have 12 piglets to sell.

With over 200 participants, including LiveDifferent volunteers, plus about 400 community members, the streets were crowded. I expect more of the residents of Nuevo Renacer showed up after we departed for a piece of one of the 10 cakes that were on offer as part of the celebration.

Each family received their key to their new home from each of the six team captains. This was a moving experience for all involved and the language barrier didn’t prevent us from understanding the feelings of love, thanks and pure joy in the community.

Most participants felt they received more from this warm community than we gave to them.

Leslie Memme (husband Mike is president of Mountainview Homes) expressed those sentiments during her speech on behalf of the mothers, bringing here children, Matthew and Alex, onto the stage with her.

“We’ve met many moms and kids over the past few days. You’ve opened your arms and homes to us, your kids took us by the hand and led us through the streets. They shovelled dirt with big smiles and they giggled when they passed buckets.

“Your families showed us a lot of strength.

“Thank you for welcoming us into this beautiful community. You are an inspiration to all of us.

Kuiack spoke in both English and Spanish.

“I cannot tell you how happy I am to be here,” he said. “I have the distinct honour to represent Canada here. It is a privilege to represent these 200 Canadians, as well as the 800,000 Canadians that come here every year.

“I didn’t do enough (on this build) but I will do more.”

Keys represent an important element to these families — safety. At night, Nuevo Renacer changes from the warm, welcoming community we witnessed, to a more menacing place where crime is rampant and women and children are not safe. Being able to lock your door and sleep without fear is something we take for granted, but is a luxury to many of these families.

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.